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IBM Beats The Rest of the World To 7nm Chips, But You'll Need to Wait For Them
Mickeycaskill writes: IBM's research division has successfully produced test chips containing 7nm transistors, potentially paving the way for slimmer, more powerful devices. The advance was made possible by using silicon-germanium instead of pure silicon in key regions of the molecular-size switches, making transistor switching faster and meaning the chips need less power. Most current smartphones use processors containing 14nm technology, with Qualcomm, Nvidia and MediaTek looking for ways to create slimmer chips. However, despite its evident pride, IBM is not saying when the 7nm technology will become commercially available. Also at ComputerWorld and The Register.
In 2006 they developed a 350GHz room temperature capable silicon gallium CPU. Where is that?
IBM is not saying when the 7nm technology will become commercially available
No, because a big hurdle is of course lithography on 7 nanos, but the even bigger hurdle is using it with a high enough yield to make it commercially viable.
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Most current smartphones use processors containing 14nm technology
Only a few use 14nm today. It's still relatively scarce.
Also, a company that no longer had a fab did a proof of concept in a lab. This is not what the headline suggests. It's nice to know that we have a proven hypothetical to get down to 7, but the practical side of things has a tenuous relation to research.
XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
Yeah because IBM sold their FAB so they don't know when anybody will produce chips based on this 7nm technology. They'll be happy to license it to chip manufacturers, they just won't produce it themselves.
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
Given the challenges Intel faced with yields at 14nm.... and indication they face the same challenges with 10nm, evidenced by the push back to 2017 for the technology - I'm pretty goddamned skeptical that IBM has "beat" anyone to anything. Could I go to an Intel laboratory today and see a proof-of-concept 7nm chip? 5nm? Probably using all manner of interesting silicon replacements? I bet that I could.
No, as you can see from the market today, this is merely an attempt by IBM to resurrect their flagging stock prices (which has worked).
I'm sorry, but this is absolutely not true. You think the batteries in your devices are merely smaller because of reduced CPU consumption? The truth of the matter is that battery technology is improving at a constant rate, and the amount of R&D being poured into the industry is impressive. Just because you don't know that it's taking place doesn't mean it's not happening. And seriously, you can confirm this for yourself with some simple google searches.